How Casting Works: Inside the Casting Process for Film, TV and Theatre

Casting can feel like a black box to actors. You send in a self-tape or walk into a room, and weeks later you hear something, or more often nothing. Understanding how casting actually works won’t guarantee you the part, but it will help you prepare better, take rejection less personally and make life easier for the people deciding whether to hire you.

Who’s involved in casting

• Casting director: hired by the production to find actors for each role. They know the talent pool, run auditions, bring options to the director and producers, and often negotiate deals with agents. They usually don’t make the final decision, but they decide who gets seen.
• Casting associates and assistants: support the casting director, run sessions, process self-tapes and manage schedules.
• Director: has a creative vision for each character and is usually central to the final choice.
• Producers: weigh creative choices alongside budget, schedule and commercial considerations.
• Networks, studios or financiers: for larger projects, especially lead roles in TV and film, they may need to approve casting.
• Agents: submit their clients, negotiate offers and maintain relationships with casting directors.

How a typical casting process works

1. Breakdown

The casting director reads the script, discusses characters with the director and writes a breakdown: a short description of each role, including age range, key traits and sometimes specific requirements. Breakdowns are sent to agents through casting platforms, and some roles are posted publicly as open calls.

2. Submissions and suggestions

Agents submit clients they think fit. Casting directors also draw up their own lists based on actors they know or have seen in shows, films and previous auditions. For lead roles in major projects, actors may be offered parts directly without auditioning.

3. Pre-reads and self-tapes

Most first-round auditions are now self-tapes recorded at home and sent in. Some are in-person pre-reads with the casting director. This round narrows a large pool down to a shortlist.

4. Callbacks

Shortlisted actors meet the director and sometimes producers, either in person or online. They may read new scenes, receive direction and work on different approaches.

5. Chemistry reads and screen tests

For key relationships, actors may be paired to see how they work together. Major roles sometimes involve screen tests in costume and makeup.

6. Decision and offer

The director, producers and any other stakeholders agree, and an offer is made through the actor’s agent. Negotiations cover fees, dates, billing and other terms. Other actors may be put “on hold” as backups until the deal closes.

The art: what casting directors look for

Casting is part craft and part instinct. Casting directors are looking for:

• Truth: does the actor make the character feel real?
• Specificity: have they made clear, interesting choices?
• Something unexpected: an angle on the role nobody else brought.
• Fit: do they match the world of the project and the other actors?
• Directability: can they adjust quickly when given a note?
• Ease to work with: will they be prepared, reliable and good on set?

Many casting directors say they are on the actor’s side. They want you to be the answer to their problem.

The science: practical constraints

Alongside instinct, many practical factors shape casting decisions:

• Physical requirements: age, height, build and look relative to other cast members, such as plausible siblings or couples.
• Availability: dates, location and schedules.
• Budget: what the production can pay.
• Box office or audience appeal: for some roles, an actor with a recognisable name helps secure financing or distribution.
• Diversity and representation: many productions now actively consider authentic and inclusive casting.
• Skills: accents, languages, singing, stunts, horse riding or playing an instrument.

These factors are a big reason why great auditions don’t always lead to bookings.

What this means for you as an actor

• Read the breakdown carefully, and submit only for roles that genuinely suit you.
• Make self-tapes easy to watch: good sound, clean framing, neutral background, slate as requested, and follow instructions exactly.
• Make a choice. A safe, generic reading is easy to forget. A specific, truthful one stands out.
• Be ready to adjust. Redirection is a test of flexibility, not a sign you got it wrong.
• Be professional: prepared, on time and pleasant to everyone from the receptionist to the director.
• Don’t take it personally. Most of the reasons you don’t book are invisible to you.
• Play the long game. Casting directors remember strong auditions and call actors back for future projects.

For more preparation tips, see our guides to preparing a monologue, preparing for a role quickly and getting a good headshot. If you’re looking for representation, read our guide to acting agents.

Final thoughts

Casting combines artistic instinct with very practical constraints. You can’t control most of it, but you can control how prepared, specific and professional you are. Do that consistently, and you’ll give casting directors every reason to call you in again.